Jeff Blair on Donald Fehr and the Globe's Power 50

Globe sport columnist takes your questions on Fehr, executive director of the NHLPA, who is No. 1 on The Globe and Mail’s Power 50 for 2012, because of the significance accorded negotiations on a new collective agreement with the National Hockey League. Blair will be online Thursday at 1 p.m.

This is globesports.com editor Darren Yourk inviting you to join Globe columnist Jeff Blair here Thursday at 1 p.m. to discuss Donald Fehr and the Globe 's Power 50 list of influential people in sport. Jeff wrote the profile of Fehr for the package and will take your questions on the executive director of the NHLPA and the state of negotiations with the NHL on a new collective bargaining agreement. You can submit questions in the comments section below once the chat begins, or e-mail them to power50@scribblelive.com. We hope you will join us.

by Darren Yourk2/9/2012 5:59:18 PM

Ready to field questions on the Power 50. Be gentle .....

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:04:30 PM

I'll get us started Jeff. Readers always ask how we come up with the list and the rankings. Can you shed a bit of light on why Fehr was put in the top spot for 2012?

by Darren Yourk2/9/2012 6:05:38 PM

Hockey is king in Canada. We can debate what that means about us, but it is fact. And the NHL is the most-watched and followed league in Canada. It could have been either Fehr or Gary Bettman but we went with Fehr because he brings an intriguing new dynamic to negotiations on a CBA. Bettman we know about. Fehr is considered the most adroit sports labour negotiator of his generation and his approach and tone will more than be a match for Bettman. Fehr's presence means amateur hour is over at the NHLPA; and a strong union with clear channels of communication makes it easier to get an agreement and avoid a stoppage. Ultimately, it will be Bettman who calls the shot: if he feels the need to "win," there will be a stoppage. But Fehr is more than his match.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:09:09 PM

You have a long background covering baseball. Can you tell our readers what you learned about watching Fehr's work in that sport?

by Darren Yourk2/9/2012 6:10:19 PM

Fehr is not afraid to stand on principle, but he is hardly doctinaire. He fought drug testing because of right to privacy issues - and was proven right when test results leaked out. But he's also a realist; he sensed players were becoming more sensitive about testing and were willing to give ground grudgingly, so he did. He knows the players are going to get a smaller share of revenue in this agreement. He will try to get concessions from ownership that will make it more palatable to his membership. Beyond that .... he's actually a pretty cool guy to spend some time with.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:13:08 PM

A question emailed in from a reader named Mike: "Jeff, what would Fehr and the players consider a 'win' in this round of CBA negotiations?"

by Darren Yourk2/9/2012 6:14:58 PM

Mike: A win would be holding their share of revenues at 50 per-cent compared to 57, as well as a clearer description of restricted free agency - the union does not consider the open reluctance of G.M.s to sign other teams free agents for fear of reprisal to be similar legally to the collusion issue that was faced in baseball. My own belief is Fehr would like a formal joint partnership with the NHL on a World Cup format that could actually generate revenue. Other than their medals, NHL players don't get much out of the Olympics. If a World Cup would be a way of increasing the revenue pie, I think the players would go for it.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:17:54 PM

If the CBA isn't settled by 1 Jan 2013, the Winter Classic just announced is off?

by chee2/9/2012 6:19:43 PM

It is always possible for sides to continue working under the existing CBA if they feel progress is being made.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:20:31 PM

Where does Fehr fall in terms of getting teams in better markets i.e. Out of Phoenix and into Quebec City?

by Rick2/9/2012 6:20:41 PM

Rick, I don't think he cares. Nor, frankly, do the players. They want teams in markets where the most revenue can be generated. If it's Quebec City, fine. If it's Seattle or some place else, that's OK too. I do know this: Quebec City needs to get moving within the next four months. It needs to get beyond the good intentions stage. This negotiation is going to be about revenue.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:22:32 PM

Would Alex Baumann have made the list if he hadn't left for New Zealand last fall? Won't some of the success of Canada in London Olympics have been based on what he accomplished with Own The Podium?

by JB2/9/2012 6:22:59 PM

I can honestly say there wasn't much discussion about Baumann in putting the list together, but my answer to your question is yes.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:23:58 PM

Just my 2cents but U.S. owners in small markets seem to find the constantly rising salary cap floor problematic. I would think the PA will have more of a battle on that side than the cap, as well as overall % take from the pie.

by chee2/9/2012 6:24:13 PM

In my opinion, if the NHL owners were smart they'd move off the cap system totally and go more towards a luxury-tax system like baseball has. But they won't. We disagree about your point; if there's a way the floor can be managed, both sides will go for it. I don't think a cap works without a floor, both philosophically and practically.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:26:35 PM

Two questions: 1. Shouldn't Milos Raonic have been on the list? He might be on the verge of an historic year for a Canadian male in singles. 2. Could you argue Ken Dryden is too high, despite his insightful writings on violence in hockey?

by David2/9/2012 6:27:53 PM

David, the reason most of the active athletes made the list was because they are involved in endeavours outside of competition. Patrick Chan didn't make it. Brett Lawrie didn't either. It's not based on performance. As for Dryden? We believe he is going to be the point man in the continuing battle to raise awareness of concussions in hockey. The doctors do great work; but Dryden still has a cache possessed by few others.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:30:23 PM

Jeff, I think you could make a case for Tom Wright (Head of UFC Canada) to be included on this list. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.

by Ronnie2/9/2012 6:31:46 PM

Why? Tom Wright is a mouthpiece for a mouthpiece. UFC would do what it does without him.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:32:46 PM

Nice list, #35 Mark Chipman could be David Thompson and Mark Chipman together. Without Davids avid sports investing there isn't that sudden Jets revival in 2011

by chee2/9/2012 6:35:32 PM

Since David pays me, more or less, I'd go along with that.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:36:07 PM

Can you talk a bit about how the CTV/Rogers relationship (both as partners and competitors) impacts the Canadian sports scene as a whole?

by Darren Yourk2/9/2012 6:37:21 PM

But to your point, Chee: there's no doubt that the QUIET, effective approach by both Davids made the move possible. I can think of other monied, would-be Canadian owners who would have been better advised to operate in a similar manner.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:38:05 PM

Darren, My own opinion is in the long run it will be a benefit because it will maximize exposure over multiple platforms, whether CTV or Rogers. Obviously, there are going to be concerns about competitiveness, but I think the real determining factor in "who wins" down the road will be the ability to harness developing technologies, especially mobile technologies. That will ensure competitiveness, because it is to both parties benefit OUTSIDE of sports to beat the other in that area. On the other hand, it will be fun watching them carve up the Leafs TV and radio schedule ....

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:41:35 PM

Couldn't agree with you more Jeff. Hoping potential 2nd Toronto team owners read off the same song sheet

by chee2/9/2012 6:41:58 PM

Chee, I don't think we'll see a second team in Toronto any time soon. Just a gut instinct.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:42:35 PM

Is there anyone who you feel should have made the list but didn't?

by Stu2/9/2012 6:45:12 PM

Stu, I think it was pretty comprehensive, especially with the focus on athletes who are addressing wider societal concerns as opposed to those who are simply excelling on the field. I might have made exception for soccer players Junior Hoilett and Jonathan de Guzman, because if they committed to Canada they would do more for their sport in one stroke of the pen - in terms of credibility, message and transformational ability - what few other athletes would be capable of doing.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:47:32 PM

I'll throw my two cents in on that one: I would have liked to see Wally Buono make it.

by Darren Yourk2/9/2012 6:47:35 PM

Darren, your two cents have been politely returned .....

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:48:01 PM

Truth is, most of the debate likely focussed on Sidney Crosby. Tough to say that he "fell" off from last year because he has still done more than anybody else for concussion awareness by his absence from the game.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:50:18 PM

How do you evaluate where to put Sidney Crosby in a year he's barely seen the ice?

by Ben2/9/2012 6:51:15 PM

Ben, that was the issue in its entirety. We liked the top end of the list very much; beyond that, you are pretty much splitting hairs. Crosby could have been higher.

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:52:41 PM

On Crosby, I think it's fair to say Jeff that we considered the impact his injury has had on the concussion debate. Not to diminish other injured players, but Crosby going out of the game is almost an entirely different level.

by Darren Yourk2/9/2012 6:54:53 PM

Darren, Mention the name Crosby to a hockey fan right now and the first word that comes to mind - lousy pun, I know - is "concussion."

by Jeff Blair here. Looking...2/9/2012 6:55:53 PM

We've reached the hour mark, so we'll call it a day. Thanks for doing this Jeff.